Garry Monk urges Leeds to adopt siege mentality and ignore what is said by outsiders

Leeds have made a bright start to the campaign and have an EFL Cup quarter-final tie to look forward to.

Garry Monk has suggested to The Telegraph that he wants his Leeds United side to adopt a siege mentality and ignore everything that is being said about them from outsiders.

The Whites have made an extremely bright start to the campaign, but there is no doubt that many Leeds fans would have been shocked if after six Championship games they had been told that they would ultimately finish November in fifth place in the table.

Leeds United manager Garry Monk

They may have perhaps also been shocked if, at that stage of the season, they were told that Monk was still in charge heading into December, given Massimo Cellino's ruthlessness when it comes to the club's head coaches.

However, Monk has seemingly battled through Leeds' difficult spell of form. But he has suggested that any criticism of his squad or any suggestion from those outside the club that he was under pressure has been used to motivate the Whites' dramatic upturn in form.

Leeds United players celebrate

"People said I was under pressure at the start of the season, but I know what I can do, I know what the players can do and I know what this club can do. We have not to worry about what is said outside. We have a siege mentality and this is a club, traditionally, that has always had that. It's part of its strength," he said, as reported by the Telegraph.

Since losing to Huddersfield in September, Leeds have won eight times in the league and gone from the bottom three to the top six. And if Monk can get the squad to maintain that mentality for the rest of the season, perhaps they will be able to prove all of their critics wrong by finishing in the play-off places.